Many studies have reported that curcumin, the key ingredient in the
spice turmeric, is beneficial for your health, but why they can make
this claim has not been determined. Now scientists at Oregon State
University (OSU) have identified a reason why curcumin is good for you.
Turmeric has been an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine and various
other healing practices for millennia because of its anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant properties. In recent years, numerous studies have shown
curcumin to be helpful in the management of a variety of health
concerns, ranging from prostatitis and prostate cancer to arthritis and heartburn.
A secret of curcumin’s healing abilities appears to be its ability to
increase the levels of a protein called cathelicidin antimicrobial
peptide (CAMP), which has a key role in the immune system that helps
prevent infection. This discovery was uncovered by researchers in the
Linus Pauling Institute at OSU, who collaborated with scientists from
the University of Copenhagen.
Specifically, the researchers found that curcumin increased
expression of the CAMP gene by nearly threefold, and thus could be
helpful in preventing infection. Vitamin D also has the ability to boost expression of the CAMP gene, and it is more potent than curcumin in this regard.
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